Wanna Decryptor 2.0 ransomware removal (upd. Dec. 2017) By Will Wisser Posted on May 13, 2017 6 min read 1 15,327 The new Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 ransomware (aka Wanna Decryptor), which appends the .WNCRY extension to encrypted files, is taking online extortion attacks to a whole new level. Although extortion through crypto viruses has been around for years, it’s hard to recall a ransomware sample as rapidly expanding as Wana Decrypt0r 2.0. Its worldwide distribution took root on Friday, May 12, and is currently reaching tens of thousands of infections per hour – a figure never seen in this underground industry before. This nasty specimen is an enhanced offspring of an existing infection known as WCry, which originally surfaced in March. While sharing quite a few characteristics with its predecessor, the newbie uses a different propagation vector and has several indicators of compromise of its own. In particular, it concatenates the .WNCRY, .WCRY, .WNRY or .WNCRYPT string to every file that underwent the cryptographic impact. So for instance, a sample document named Essay.docx will become Essay.docx.WNCRY in the aftermath of this breach. Additionally, the offending code displays a warning window drops a ransom note called @Please_Read_Me@.txt into folders with affected files and the desktop. Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 warning window The main pane of the ransomware reads, “What happened to My Computer? Your important files are encrypted. Many of your documents, photos, videos, databases and other files are no longer accessible because they have been encrypted.” Unfortunately, this is true. The alert window also displays two countdown timers, the first one showing the amount of time left before the ransom payment will be raised, and the other counting down the time before your files will be lost. The former span is 3 days, and the latter is 7 days. The TXT edition of the decryption how-to contains a similar message, except the time indicators. To make the attack yet more straightforward, Wanna Decryptor also replaces the victim’s desktop background with a warning image. It says, Ooops, your important files are encrypted. If you see this text, but don’t see the “Wana Decrypt0r” window, then your antivirus removed the decrypt software or your deleted it from your computer. If you need your files you have to run the decrypt software. Please find an application file named “@WanaDecryptor.exe@” in any folder or restore from the antivirus quarntine The entirety of scary alerts produced by the .WNCRY file virus suffices to pressure the victim into paying up. To redeem all personal information, plagued users are instructed to submit $300 worth of Bitcoin to a specified BTC wallet. WNCRY file virus replaces the original desktop background with its own Unlike its less sophisticated forerunner, Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 reportedly relies on NSA exploit dubbed EternalBlue. This is one of the exploits recently leaked by a hacker group identifying themselves as The Shadow Brokers. In a nutshell, what this contamination vector means is it enables ransomware distributors to execute their bad code on computers manually through RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol). These types of remote access services are heavily used by small businesses and large corporations, so these are the primary targets for the crooks behind WNCRY malware. This fact became obvious when the ransomware first infected the IT infrastructure of Spanish organizations, including Telefonica, Iberdrola, and Gas Natural. Later on, the plague spread over to the UK, hitting the computer network of the country’s National Health Service (NHS). Since Wana Decrypt0r zeroes in on high-profile targets, companies should adopt urgent countermeasures and have a ransomware incident response plan in place. Unfortunately, a free decryption tool for .WNCRY extension files has yet to be created. According to preliminary analysis of security researchers, the infection implements the crypto part of its modus operandi flawlessly. So having a plan B that revolves around data backups is imperative. In some cases, a ransomware sample may fail to deploy the attack chain all the way and doesn’t delete Shadow Copies of one’s valuable files. That’s why it’s strongly recommended to try the best practices of forensic recovery before considering the ransom option. The step-by-step guide below will walk you through every alternative workaround to restore hostage information. .WNCRY file ransomware automated removal and data recovery When faced with ransomware like .WNCRY file, one of the best shortcuts in terms of removal is to use Combo Cleaner, a lightweight and incredibly effective application with PC security and optimization features under the hood. It detects and thoroughly deletes threats while giving you insights into the overall health of your computer. This program’s protection power spans modules that forestall all known types of malware, including ransomware and browser hijackers, and take your online security to the next level by blocking phishing sites and other suspicious web pages. Follow these simple steps to eliminate the infection for good: 1. Download Combo Cleaner installer. Download .WNCRY file remover Combo Cleaner scans your PC with no strings attached, but you’ll have to buy its fully functional version to remove the threats it detects. The disk optimization tools that find large files and duplicates are free to use. 2. Open the CCSetup.exe file to get started. Several subsequent screens will allow you to make initial customizations so that the program works exactly as you need from the get-go. 3. The installation will be followed by an update of malware signatures. Once this process is through, click the Start Scan button in the left-hand sidebar. 4. Combo Cleaner will then check system locations that are most often polluted by Windows malware. The first scan can take a while to finish. 5. Combo Cleaner will display a system tray notification as soon as the scan is over. Click the Resolve found threats button to view the results. 6. The scan summary shows the names and types of the detected threats as well as their statuses and locations. Click the Remove all threats button and follow further on-screen prompts to get rid of these items. Data recovery toolkit to the rescue Some strains of ransomware are known to delete the original files after the encryption routine has been completed. As hostile as this activity appears, it can play into your hands. There are applications designed to revive the information that was obliterated because of malfunctioning hardware or due to accidental removal. The tool called Stellar Data Recovery features this type of a capability and therefore it can be applied in ransom attack scenarios to at least get the most important files back. So use the app to get an idea of what data can be restored and let it do the recovery job. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough: 1. Download and install Stellar Data Recovery. Download Stellar Data Recovery 2. Open the application, select the types of recoverable files to look for, and click Next. 3. Choose the areas you want the tool to recover from and click the Scan button. 4. Having scanned the specified locations, the program will display a notification about the total amount of recoverable data. Close the dialog and click the Recover button. This will hopefully help you get some of your valuable files back. .WNCRY file ransomware manual removal and file recovery Some ransomware strains terminate themselves after completing the encryption job on a computer, but some don’t. Furthermore, the .WNCRY file virus may prevent victims from using popular antimalware tools in order to stay on board for as long as possible. Under the circumstances, it may be necessary to utilize the Safe Mode with Networking or System Restore functionality. Remove .WNCRY file ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking Remove .WNCRY file ransomware using Safe Mode with Networking Boot into Safe Mode with Networking. The method to do it depends on the version of the infected operating system. Follow the instructions below for your OS build. Windows XP / Vista / 7 Windows 8 / 8.1 / 10 Restart the machine. When the system begins loading back up, keep pressing the F8 key with short intervals. The Windows Advanced Options Menu (Advanced Boot Options) screen will appear. Use arrow keys to select Safe Mode with Networking and hit Enter. Log on with the user account infected by the ransomware. Click on the Search icon next to the Start menu button. Type msconfig in the search field and select the System Configuration option in the results. Go to the Boot tab in the upper part of the GUI. Under Boot options, select Safe boot and click the Apply button. A prompt will appear to reboot the computer so that the changes take effect. Select the Restart option and wait for the system to load into Safe Mode. Again, log on with the ransomware-stricken user account. In Safe Mode, the ransom Trojan won’t keep security software from running or otherwise thwart troubleshooting. Open your preferred web browser, download and install an antimalware tool of choice and start a full system scan. Have all the detected ransomware components removed in a hassle-free way. Get rid of .WNCRY file ransomware using System Restore Get rid of .WNCRY file ransomware using System Restore System Restore enables Windows users to roll back all changes made to the OS since the latest restore point creation time. This feature can help eliminate the most persistent ransomware. Before going this route, though, make sure System Restore had been enabled prior to the breach, otherwise the method will be inefficient. Open Windows Advanced Options Menu as described in the previous section: hit F8 repeatedly when the PC is starting up. Use arrow keys to highlight the Safe Mode with Command Prompt entry. Hit Enter. In the Command Prompt window, type cd restore and hit Enter Type rstrui.exe in the new command line and press Enter When the System Restore screen pops up, click Next, select a restore point that predates the contamination, and use the application’s controls to roll back the system to this earlier state. Be advised that even after the ransomware is removed, files will still be encrypted and inaccessible. The malicious code cleanup part, however, is important because it keeps a relapse of the infection from occurring further on and eliminates all opportunistic malware. Ways of non-ransom file recovery Cracking the crypto used by this ransom Trojan is more of a science fiction thing rather than an attainable prospect for the masses. This is why the troubleshooting in predicaments of this sort is a matter of two approaches: one is to pay the ransom, which isn’t an option for many victims; and the other is to apply instruments that take advantage of the ransomware’s possible weaknesses. If the latter is your pick, the advice below is a must-try. Backups can make your day Backups can make your day Not only are you a lucky person in case you’ve been backing up your most important files, but you’re also a wise and prudent user. This isn’t necessarily a resource-heavy activity these days – in fact, some providers of online services are allocating a sufficient size of cloud storage space for free so that every customer can easily upload their critical data without paying a penny. Having removed the .WNCRY file ransomware, therefore, all you have to do is download your stuff from the remote server or transfer it all from an external piece of hardware if that’s the case. Restore previous versions of encrypted files Restore previous versions of encrypted files A positive upshot of using this technique depends on whether or not the ransomware has erased the Volume Shadow Copies of the files on your PC. This is a Windows feature that automatically makes and keeps the backups of data elements on the hard drive as long as System Restore is enabled. The cryptoware in question is programmed to switch off the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), but it has reportedly failed to in some cases. Checking one’s options regarding this workaround is doable in two ways: through the Properties menu of each file or by means of the remarkable open-source tool called Shadow Explorer. We recommend the software-based way because it’s automated, hence faster and easier. Just install the app and use its intuitive controls to get previous versions of the encrypted objects reinstated. Alternatively, you can leverage the Previous Versions feature, which is native to Windows operating system. This method is more cumbersome that the use of ShadowExplorer, but it can help restore the most important individual files on condition that the ransomware failed to disable the Volume Snapshot Service on the computer. Right-click on a file of choice and select Properties. Then, go to the Previous Versions tab as illustrated below. Go ahead and pick the file’s latest backup version on the list. Use the Copy or Restore buttons to reinstate this object to a new path or to its original folder, respectively. Ransomware Prevention Tips To avoid .WNCRY file ransomware and other file-encrypting infections in the future, follow several simple recommendations: Toggle your email provider’s anti-spam settings to filter out all the potentially harmful incoming messages. Raising the bar beyond the default protection is an important countermeasure for ransom TrojansDefine specific file extension restrictions in your email system. Make sure that attachments with the following extensions are blacklisted: .js, .vbs, .docm, .hta, .exe, .cmd, .scr, and .bat. Also, treat ZIP archives in received messages with extreme cautionRename the vssadmin.exe process so that ransomware is unable to obliterate all Shadow Volume Copies of your files in one shotKeep your Firewall active at all times. It can prevent crypto ransomware from communicating with its C&C server. This way, the threat won’t be able to obtain cryptographic keys and lock your filesBack up your files regularly, at least the most important ones. This recommendation is self-explanatory. A ransomware attack isn’t an issue as long as you keep unaffected copies of your data in a safe placeUse an effective antimalware suite. There are security tools that identify ransomware-specific behavior and block the infection before it can do any harm. These techniques are certainly not a cure-all, but they will add an extra layer of ransomware protection to your security setup. Revise your security status Post-factum assessment of the accuracy component in malware removal scenarios is a great habit that prevents the comeback of harmful code or replication of its unattended fractions. Make sure you are good to go by running an additional safety checkup. Another benefit of using the antimalware tool is that it will keep ransomware threats from intruding on your computer further on. Download .WNCRY file removal tool
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